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Area Elementary Students Enjoy COM Holiday Cheer

headshot of Cedric Ricks By Cedric Ricks 260-415-8554
2 minute read December 10, 2015

Sixth-grader Kaitlynn Harris checked out the cookie decorating booth before wondering over to make a holiday ornament.

The Rockdale Academy student came to the CARE/Crawley Atrium in the College of Medicine Wednesday to enjoy the annual Medical Student Association holiday festival. Each year various med student organizations set up booths that include arts and crafts to create a festive atmosphere for youngsters.

"The kids can get their faces painted, decorate cookies or ornaments and just have an opportunity to have fun in a safe setting,” said Libby Peters, a second-year medical student participating in the event. "For many of the students, this is their first exposure to a university campus.”

About 50 elementary school students, primarily from Cincinnati Public Schools, enjoyed the activities offered by about three dozen med students. They also got a chance to learn about different holiday traditions. At one booth medical students offered stories about Hanukkah.

"We try to help spread some holiday cheer,” said Ellen Pittman, a second-year medical student who helped organize this year’s event. "Our geriatric medical student scholars are having them make Christmas cards so they can take them to local nursing homes.”

Some youngsters came with their mentors—medical students who are part of UC Med Mentors, a program that since 2001 has been connecting College of Medicine students with mentees in the Cincinnati Public Schools—while others connected with medical students for the first time.

"Our medical students always have great things to say about participating in the event, and are always excited to offer this opportunity to local elementary school children,” said Pittman.

Area elementary students visited CARE/Crawley Atrium to enjoy the annual COM Holiday Festival.

Area elementary students visited CARE/Crawley Atrium to enjoy the annual COM Holiday Festival.

Ellen Pittman, a second-year medical student, who helped organize this year's COM Holiday Festival, is joined by med students, Joe Wilding and Nithin Peddireddy, in CARE/Crawley.

Ellen Pittman, a second-year medical student, who helped organize this year's COM Holiday Festival, is joined by med students, Joe Wilding and Nithin Peddireddy, in CARE/Crawley.

Bethany Klett, a COM med student and mentor, accompanies Kaitlynn Harris, a sixth-grader at Rockdale Academy, to the COM Holiday Festival.

Bethany Klett, a COM med student and mentor, accompanies Kaitlynn Harris, a sixth-grader at Rockdale Academy, to the COM Holiday Festival.

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